Will school finance work its way into the Medicaid IOU debate after all?

Some lawmakers may be angling to open up a debate on education funding and other issues when the Texas House takes up a must-pass bill Thursday to pay a giant looming Medicaid IOU this fiscal year.

A handful of amendments have been pre-filed to House Bill 10, including one by Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, that would give lawmakers the opportunity to put findings into the bill regarding “inadequate funding” of public schools.

This isn’t what GOP leaders were looking for when they offered, and the House approved, a rule that says if lawmakers want to add money to any program through HB10, they must deduct it from other programs that would be funded in the legislation.

That would be tough, because the bill fills a Medicaid hole and provides money that public schools need to make it through the rest of the fiscal year. There isn’t any extra money floating around in the measure.

Leaders have said they are looking at whether they can put any additional funds into public schools this fiscal year through a separate supplemental spending bill.

The House rule didn’t stop several lawmakers from pre-filing amendments to add money to items including programs for strugglings students, school security and technology, college financial aid and transportation – the latter to take care of roads damaged by increased use or oversize and overweight vehicles related to the energy boom.

Martinez Fischer’s amendment wouldn’t add money, but it has the potential to be a springboard to a lengthy discussion and potentially, some votes on how schools are funded. He and other Democrats have been vehement about the need to quickly address restoration of funding cut from public schools two years ago when Comptroller Susan Combs projected a revenue shortfall. Revenues have come in much higher than her estimate.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, has said HB 10 must pass quickly to ensure health-care providers are paid and patients get treated in the Medicaid program.

Rep. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, said he won’t press for a school finance discussion even though he believes money should be restored to education.

“Tomorrow, I think, is going to be a day for political statements,” said Menéndez, calling such statements “somewhat dangerous” since lawmakers will be dealing with a bill affecting health care for “the most vulnerable Texans.” He said he didn’t want to potentially put the Medicaid funding at risk.

Menéndez added that there has been a “positive atmosphere” thus far in the GOP-dominated House.

Rep. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio

“I don’t want to start taking us down a path that might get people to dig in their heels and say, ‘Well, why should we work with you guys if you’re just going to try to embarrass us?'”

Asked about Martinez Fischer’s amendment, he called the lawmaker smart and politically savvy.

“I’m sure he’s got a game plan. It’s not what I would choose to do,” Menéndez said.